National Monument, NLCS mark anniversaries

The Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument celebrated its 10th anniversary on October 18 in much the same manner as it was created -- with many friends and partners. The event, held at the Monument Visitors Center, featured comments from: Congresswoman Mary Bono-Mack; Carl Rountree, Director of NLCS Community Programs; local state legislators, county supervisors, and representatives of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. (text continues below)

Teri Raml, Desert District Manager, speaks on successful partnerships and Service First during the Monument 10th Anniversary celebration.

Teri Raml, BLM California Desert District Manager, spoke on the benefits and successes of the multi-agency Service First Agreement that facilitates the management of the 280,000-acre national monument. The Monument is cooperatively managed by the BLM and the Forest Service, along with California State Parks and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument was established by an Act of Congress on October 24, 2000 “in order to preserve the nationally significant biological, cultural, recreational, geological, educational, and scientific values found in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains and to secure now and for future generations the opportunity to experience and enjoy the magnificent vistas, wildlife, land forms, and natural and cultural resources in these mountains and to recreate therein.”

This year also marks the 10th Anniversary of the National Landscape Conservation System. The treasured landscapes of the Conservation System are specially designated and managed to conserve, protect, and restore their exceptional scientific, natural, cultural, ecological, historical, and recreational values.

The many friends and partners of the Monument stand with Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (center) prior to formal 10th anniversary events.